This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-29204237

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Christina Edkins killing was 'preventable', report says Christina Edkins killing was 'preventable', report says
(35 minutes later)
The death of a 16-year-old girl who was stabbed on her way to school could have been prevented if her killer had received mental health treatment, a report has found. The death of a teenager stabbed on her way to school could have been prevented if her killer had been given mental health treatment, a report has found.
Christina Edkins was killed by Phillip Simelane, 23, on a bus in Birmingham in March 2013. Christina Edkins, 16, was killed by Phillip Simelane, 23, on a bus in Birmingham in March 2013.
An investigation found that medical staff, police and the prison service missed opportunities over 14 months to get Simelane the treatment he needed. An inquiry found that medical staff, police and the prison service missed chances to get him treatment he needed.
He admitted manslaughter last October. Simelane, from Walsall, had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He admitted manslaughter last October.
Simelane, from Walsall, was detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act by a judge at Birmingham Crown Court. He was detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act by a judge at Birmingham Crown Court.
A review into Christina's death was commissioned by Birmingham Cross City Clinical Commissioning Group, on behalf of all agencies that had dealt with him.A review into Christina's death was commissioned by Birmingham Cross City Clinical Commissioning Group, on behalf of all agencies that had dealt with him.
'Meaningless and avoidable'
The chair of the review panel, Dr Alison Reed, said: "The attack on Christina was random and unprovoked and therefore it could not have been predicted.The chair of the review panel, Dr Alison Reed, said: "The attack on Christina was random and unprovoked and therefore it could not have been predicted.
"However, it is the conclusion of the panel that as Christina's death was directly related to P's mental illness, it could have been prevented if his mental health needs had been identified and met.""However, it is the conclusion of the panel that as Christina's death was directly related to P's mental illness, it could have been prevented if his mental health needs had been identified and met."
The report found that Simelane's mental health problems were first identified 11 years ago, when he was at school.
It said despite repeated requests by his mother to GPs and social workers to get him treatment they ignored her.
He was involved in several violent incidents including assaulting a police officer and threatening his mother with a knife, for which he was sent to prison in July 2012.
'Meaningless and avoidable'
Simelane spent more than 100 days in HMP Hewell where he was diagnosed as psychotic and given medication for his condition.
He was released with only three days worth of medication and no long-term drugs plan, the report said.
After being sent back to prison for drugs offences he ended up sleeping rough on the streets of Birmingham in December 2012.
The report made 51 recommendations calling for the improved sharing of mental health information between agencies including the NHS, the police and the prison service.The report made 51 recommendations calling for the improved sharing of mental health information between agencies including the NHS, the police and the prison service.
In a statement, Christina's family said they agreed with the findings of the report that the attack could have been prevented.In a statement, Christina's family said they agreed with the findings of the report that the attack could have been prevented.
"It was predictable that, without treatment, Phillip Simelane, would eventually resort to a knife attack on another person and it was only a matter of time before he carried out his threats to kill.""It was predictable that, without treatment, Phillip Simelane, would eventually resort to a knife attack on another person and it was only a matter of time before he carried out his threats to kill."
The family said they hoped many recommendations in Dr Reed's report would be implemented so that "no other family has to experience the heartache of such a meaningless and avoidable death of a loved one".The family said they hoped many recommendations in Dr Reed's report would be implemented so that "no other family has to experience the heartache of such a meaningless and avoidable death of a loved one".
Philip Simelane's family said in a statement: "Having read the heart touching report, we wonder if it will change anything in the future or is it just a paper exercise meant to put our hearts at peace for little while?
"We make a heartfelt plea to the Government to take measures to ensure corrective systems and procedures are put in place immediately to prevent the continued re-occurrence of these tragic incidents."